Chaotic characters acting Lawful?

[Gynsala]

It's hard to play a lawful character. Not only are you bound by things like oaths and laws, but DM's just love to pick at them. And then, if you ever break character, and commit an act that is unlawful, you take an experience penalty (in most people's campaigns) or if you've committed several of these acts, you face an alignment change by the DM.

My question is, as anyone out there ever had a problem with chaotic characters acting too lawful? It seems like a huge bias against lawful characters. They have clearcut boundaries that the DM is certain to play with (hopefully for storyline purposes at least). Chaotic characters can follow the law or keep their word as much as they want, and it doesn't make them lawful.

It just seems a bit unfair to me, is all. Sure, lawful characters know what their getting into, but shouldn't they get something else, too? Maybe I'll start giving my PC's who play lawful characters an exp boost...

 

[fusangite]

My question is, as anyone out there ever had a problem with chaotic characters acting too lawful? It seems like a huge bias against lawful characters. They have clearcut boundaries that the DM is certain to play with (hopefully for storyline purposes at least). Chaotic characters can follow the law or keep their word as much as they want, and it doesn't make them lawful.

As a GM, I've had to play chaotic evil NPCs by the book. The rules effectively prohibit chaotic evil individuals from acting rationally in their own interest.

 

[Chroma]

I've had a player change his sorcerer from CG to NG after hanging around with LGs for a long time and starting to act like them; the player realized his character was becoming less "individual-focused" and more of a "help others within the strictures of the main LG religion in the area". Of course, the raising of the character by the same church helped with this change of heart as well. Was a really cool character development.

Depending on what happens, he may eventually even drift into LG.

 

[Turanil]

It's hard to play a lawful character. Not only are you bound by things like oaths and laws, but DM's just love to pick at them. And then, if you ever break character, and commit an act that is unlawful, you take an experience penalty (in most people's campaigns) or if you've committed several of these acts, you face an alignment change by the DM.

There is also DMs like me who don't bother being so harsh about alignment. When I do run a D&D campaign, I look at alignments only in cases of extreme behaviors, or for characters who are supposed to be the representatives of some ethical dogma (like a paladin or cleric). For the others, it's more a roleplaying guideline than anything else.

My question is, as anyone out there ever had a problem with chaotic characters acting too lawful? It seems like a huge bias against lawful characters. They have clearcut boundaries that the DM is certain to play with (hopefully for storyline purposes at least). Chaotic characters can follow the law or keep their word as much as they want, and it doesn't make them lawful.

Chaotic characters can be seen as utter individualists who live to fulfill their own desires, and don't care for traditions and what not. However, chaotic doesn't mean they should break the law and lie. Especially if that would put them into danger.

My opinion is that, for exemple, a chaotic dwarf could be an adventurer who didn't care for becoming a weaponsmith and raise a family like his ancestors. Instead, he decided he would travel far away in search of treasures to plunder, and didn't care that the clan needed his arms to defend against continuous threats of goblinoids. Also, his clan's traditions held it's a shame on the whole family if a member desists like this. Obviously the dwarf cannot be lawful if he departs to follow the life of an adventurer. However, having become an individualist who doesn't care for family, traditions, and duties (it's his life after all! Let him do what he wants with it!!), this dwarf is not obliged to break the law and lie wherever he travels!! I say he would help others primarily if he sees a benefit for himself in it (like getting paid or getting treasure).

 

[billd91]

Both Lawful and Chaotic characters can act in largely the same way, on the surface. The interesting question is why the characters are acting that way. That will get to the root of whether the character is acting Lawful or acting Chaotic. If the motivations are about duty, collective responsibilities, and so on: Lawful. If it's more about personal responsibility and choice: Chaotic.

The outward behavior can be largely the same.